Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Humming Bird’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Humming Bird’ particularly characterized by flowers which are bronzed (yellow/green covered with red/purple stripes and spots), with a purple labellum with some yellow and a white column; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Humming Bird’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/478,809, filed Apr. 25, 2011 and Netherlands Plant Breeders' RightsApplication No. OPS789, filed Apr. 27, 2011. The disclosure of bothprior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Humming Bird’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Humming Bird’ is a product of a controlledbreeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Humming Bird’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sara Gold’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Nobelstar’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Humming Bird’was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Humming Bird’, which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new, and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are bronzed (yellow/green covered with        red/purple stripes and spots), with a purple labellum with some        yellow;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Humming Bird’, the femaleparent ‘Sara Gold’ has yellow flowers with red/brown/purple marks andthey are about 6 cm in size, the male parent ‘Nobelstar’ hasyellow/violet colored flowers and they are about 6 cm in size, whereasthe flowers of ‘Humming Bird’ are bronzed and are about 6 cm in size.

Presently, there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘Humming Bird’ canbe meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Humming Bird’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Humming Bird’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Humming Bird’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘HummingBird’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Humming Bird’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Humming Bird’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Humming Bird’as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘HummingBird’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the floweringphase of ‘Humming Bird’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C.during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘HummingBird’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balancedfertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied.Duration of growth of ‘Humming Bird’ from potting size is between 10 and14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Humming Bird’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Sara Gold’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Nobelstar’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 5 mm-7            mm wide and greyed-green/green in color (combination of RHS            156D, RHS 128D, and RHS 137B); freely branching. It takes 12            weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate            roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 57 cm. Spread: about 38 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS 137A) and a            relatively normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 17 to 20 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 7 to 9 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green RHS 137A. Under side:            yellow-green (RHS 146B).        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS 137A). under side: yellow-green (RHS 143C).-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 8 to 14.        -   Length.—About 40 to 50 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS N137C and RHS 138A).        -   Internode.—Length: about 35 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 mm to 20 mm.            Diameter (at midpoint): about 10 mm to 20 mm. Shape:            egg-shaped. Color: yellow-green (RHS 144A) at the base some            red-purple (RHS 61A).        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2            racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers            per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected            approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a            leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—Present.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of            phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size: Height: about 50 mm.            Diameter: about 55 mm. Depth of tube: about 10 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are            trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are            more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement: Inner whorl of            petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2            lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly            cupped. Apex: oval. Margin: entire and weakly undulate.            Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 25 mm. Width: about            20 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under            surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper            surface: main color is yellow-green (RHS 153D) and is            covered with greyed-purple stripes and spots (RHS 185B). In            the center some purple-violet (RHS N80A). Under surface:            main color is yellow-green (RHS 153D) with some            greyed-purple stripes and spots (RHS 185C). Labellum:            Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at            central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the            midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the            column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2            short filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the            labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular            with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly            undulate. Apex: oval. Length: about 15 mm. Width (not            flattened): about 13 mm. Texture: Upper and under surface:            smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Midlobe: Main color is purple (N79B) with at the base some            orange-red (RHS 34B) and at the tip purple (RHS N78A) with            two white stripes RHS 155C. Lateral lobes: main color is            white (RHS 155C) with purple stripes (RHS N79C) and yellow            at the base (RHS 13A). Under surface: Midlobe: purple (RHS            N79B) and at the end purple-violet (RHS N80A) with some            orange-red (RHS 34A) on the sides. Also some white (RHS            155C) in the center. Lateral lobes: white (RHS 155C) and            purple/violet (RHS N80A). Some yellow at the base (RHS 13A).            Chirri: about 1 mm. color: white RHS 155C. Pestle            (Callosities): Length: about 3 mm. Width (not flattened):            about 3 mm. Color: yellow (RHS 13A) with purple spots (RHS            N79C). Sides are white (RHS NN155C) and yellow (RHS 13A).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 30 to 35 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm.            Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: yellow-green (RHS 146D)            and close to the flower a light haze of red-purple (RHS            64A).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall            shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and            weakly undulate. Length: about 27 mm. Width: about 20 mm.            Apex: oval; lateral little pointy. Texture: Upper and under            surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper            surface: main color is yellow-green (RHS 153D) covered with            greyed-purple stripes and spots (RHS 185B). Under surface:            main color is yellow-green (RHS 153D) with some            greyed-purple stripes and spots (RHS 185C).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 15 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:            red-purple RHS 73A and white RHS NN155C.        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color:            yellow-orange RHS 23B.        -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:            red-purple RHS 73A and white RHS NN155C.-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Humming Bird’, as illustrated and described herein.